"I'm going to spell it," I shouted. "Are you ready? … S for—for sister."
"Now you're going to muddle him," murmured Celia.
"S for sister; have you got that? … No, sister, idiot. I for idiot," I added quickly. "S for sister—this is another sister, of course. T for two. Got that? No, two. Two anything—two more sisters, if you like. E for—E for—" I turned helplessly to Celia: "quick, a word to begin with E! I've got him moving now. E for—quick, before his tympanum runs down."
"Er—er—" Desperately she tried to think.
"E for er," I shouted. "That'll be another sister, I expect … Celia, I believe we ought to spell it with an 'H.' Can't you think of a better word?"
"Enny," said Celia, having quite lost her nerve by this time.
"E for enny," I shouted. "Any anything. Any of the sisters I've been telling you about. R for—quick, Celia!"
"Rose," she said hastily.
"R for Rose," I shouted. "Rose the flower—or the sister if you like. There you are, that's the whole word. Now then, I'll just spell it to you over again…. Celia, I want another word for E. That last was a bad one."
"Edith?"